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Friday, August 26, 2011

When Life Happens…WRITE on Sticky Notes by Guest Blogger Pepper Basham

I’ve been a friend of Seekerville for over two years now, and among the MANY things I’ve learned, there is this one BIG truth:

EVERYONE has a different approach to writing.

Some people have a set schedule.

Some have a set word count

Some wake up at the wink of dawn.

Some write into the night.

Then there are people like me.

I’m not exactly wired like most.

(Oh dear, I can hear Ruthy laughing from here. Takes one to know one, Ruthy)

What I mean by that statement, besides the obvious, is that my brain is in constant forward motion…at high speeds. Blame it on being a mom of five. Or being raised in the middle of a herd of big-time talkers. Or maybe it’s my proclivity toward ADHD but….

I thrive on activity (this does not mean I’m either fit or thin, btw).

I work better in a borderline state of hysteria;-)

It’s a good thing too, because there aren’t too many episodes of slow motion in my house or at work. (God knew, of course) Long spans of free writing time are as elusive as…the other match to a child’s white sock on a school morning with five minutes left before rushing out the door. (Anyone ELSE know that feeling?)

Or as elusive as a pair of pantyhose that DO NOT have a run the size of the Mississippi river in them? (I do NOT expect Vince or Walt to understand this dilemma – and I really don’t want to know if they do ;-)

Some people have 5 subject-notebook times (about 200 pages).This is a person who writes full-time. Long spans of hours and days, where writing is a central focus and ½ a novel or an entire novel emerges after a few weeks of writing.

Weeks of writing….sigh

I dream about those moments. But dreaming is as far as it getsJ

Others have 3 subject notebook times (about 150 pages).This is someone who may have regular 3-5 hours of writing time on a consistent basis (Ruthy, is this you?), or a jag of focused weeks/months of only writing (I think Cheryl works kind of like this, and maybe Tina)

Then there are little 1 subject notebook times (about 80 pages) which make up an hour or two here and there each day. Lunch break for some of us. The wee small hours of the morning for others.

Finally, there are those little snippets of time which really can’t fit on a page – a few minutes crammed in between a chore or in carline, or several seconds at a stoplight. A nook-moment while the chicken simmers on the stove or you watch the kids play on the playground at the park.

Those are called sticky-note moments.

My life is made up of sticky-notes. Most days, that’s all I get.

To help you visualize this mental chaos, here’s an idea of what one of my Saturday mornings looks like (I work Monday-Friday as a university instructor, so those days are a bit different. If an actual lunch break happens, I might try to write- otherwise, it’s back to the sticky notes).

Let me give you an example:

Load of laundry, wash off breakfast dishes, type a few paragraphs… back to the dishes, check on kiddos, switched clothes from washer to dryer, type another paragraph or two. Help kids straighten up rooms. Fold laundry. Type another paragraph.

I wrote 500 words over a period of 4 hours this past Saturday with this method, which may not sound like much – but it matters.

Why? How on earth do sticky notes make up a novel?

Simple addition, my dear Watson.

Scattered moments strung together make a story.

For those of you who feel discouraged about ‘life’ crowding out your writing time, this is especially for you!

I KNOW what it feels like – usually on a daily basis.

But here’s a hint:

There are little opportunities all around us – God-given sticky note moments every day.

Where, you might ask?

Here’s a glimpse where I find them:

-On my lunch break (when I don’t have a lunch meeting or I’m not counseling a client (or family member)

-Five minutes before leaving my car to go into work

-In car pool line (that might even total 10 minutes or more)

-Notepad in the kitchen for those inspired moments while cooking (you can usually guess what I was cooking from the stains on the paper ;-)

-Voice recorder for inspired moments while driving

-A 13, 11, or 9 year old who will take dictation when their mother is driving them to or from school in the mornings J

-A treadmill desk to type a few ‘breathless’ notes

-Five minutes between chores or appointments

-A fabulous group of encouragers – who keep me going when I’ve fizzled to a stop

Even if you do not have writing induced ADHD like me, the lesson is this:

‘seize the moment’

‘snatch the opportunity’

Unless I’m engaged in active evaluation, teaching, counseling, or family-life, I stay in a constant state of daydreaming. It gears my brain for writing whenever there is a moment to catch J

Do I get bummed when sticky note moments happen instead of a 3-subject notebook moment? Oh dear, yes! But…

As He is ever-faithful to do, God is teaching me to trust him with ALL of my moments – big or small.

Life happens and even those moments come in short supply. Some of the Seekers and Writers’ Alley Gals have been privy to my insecurities, whining, and “I’m giving up’ tirades.But if I truly believe God has called me into this amazing writing world, while still having me live in the one I do, then there is a method to his ‘apparent’ madness in my life. J

Here’s the main things God’s taught me through this process:

1.Perseverance

Yeah, a fancy word for stick-to-itness (perfect for the sticky note mentality, don’t you think?)

2.Patience

Which really just means keeping life in the right perspective.

(Mind you, I’ve not mastered either one of these beautiful qualities, but I’m a work-in-progress)

Sticky Note Moments Tips For Your Sanity:

1.Make the most of them

2.Keep an attitude of forward motion – even if that means sssslllllloooooowwww motion.

3.Trust that God knows what He’s doing in your life (His timing, His calling, our perseverance)

4.To everything there is a season (Ruthy likes to remind us of that verse from Ecclesiastes). Right now the season of my life is sticky notes. Life is happening all around me, from kids to church to work to a mother-in-law with Alzheimer’s, to parents grieving the loss of their mothers within six months of each other. Lots of stuff.What do all these moments do?

5.Refine – we are being refined for a greater purpose. Not just so we’ll improve as writers, but most importantly so our souls will glorify the Lord. There is a phrase from one of my songs of which I love to remind myself:

“May Your glory fill my common days, with uncommon mercy and grace

So that all the souls who meet with me get a glimpse of Your beautiful face.”

The hallmark of who we are comes down to the attitude of our hearts and ‘attitude’ is not measured so much in time, as it is in action. We all are given the same amount of ‘time’. 24 hours a day. It’s the action we take (combined with the attitudes of our hearts) that make that ‘time’ matter.

Whether we have notebook moments or sticky note moments, it all comes back to our hearts – as everything in life always does.

God made this moment.

Just as it is.

Just where you are.

Just where I am.

I can take it and squeeze 20 words out of it, or allow it to slip away.

I can look at my writing nooks and crannies as meager food for the writer’s craving – or as an opportunity for creativity.

We’re all on a journey – in life, in love, in writing - and God is the author. That’s our greatest hope!

Because we’re not the authors, we’re not struggling in our own strength to write an autobiography. God’s got a story planned, one that ends with an amazing finish, and he’ll use all of our moments big or small. to get us there.

About Pepper: Pepper D. Basham is a native of the Blue Ridge Mountains, mom of five, pastor’s wife, and university instructor. When she’s not sleeping, she’s creating fictional worlds where good defeats evil, laughter reigns, and adventure thrives. She won the Award of Excellence at BRMCWC in 2009, the inspirational category of the TARA in 2010, and is a double-finalist in the Genesis for 2011.

Here is her current motto: “Three things are necessary, four are required: God’s grace, a sense of humor, children’s hugs, and good chocolate. Everything else is secondary.”

She writes stories (in various genres) that are peppered with grace and a dash of humor.

Today in Seekerville we're giving away a pack of Sticky Notes, a surprise Seeker book, and a Five Page Critique to one commenter to celebrate Pepper's post and her double Genesis final!! Winner announced in the Weekend Edition.

130 comments
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Here's some Panera breakfast goodies because that's where I get my blocks of writing in :D.

But you knew that.

We are so much alike it's scary, Pepper dear. I'm not in a sticky note phase most of the time right now though there are certainly days/weeks when I am, but right now, I'm a bit more like a one subject notebook, with flashes of three subjects and the occasional five subject day thrown in [those are the Panera days].

Saw so much of myself in you describing yourself.

Except right now I'm a bit green because of the whole 'Pepper's a guest blogger on Seekerville!!!!' thing. I think that may be even cooler than 'Double Finalist' in Genesis ;).

I have three ring binders, in varying sizes. I require quiet and solitude to write. Guess that's why I finally put the writing away years ago when the kids were small and hubby was pastoring full-time.

I've been a friend of Seekerville for about three years I think--and learned a lot here.

I also acquired coffee making duties, which have been sadly neglected this week. Family "stuff" has had me bogged down.

This is so encouraging, Pepper. It really is all about His timing and plans for our lives and I forget that so easily, especially when I'm wanting to get things done on my time table. Thank you for your words of wisdom.

Ah, my fellow Alley Cat! Such wise advice. I love how you think. Sticky notes are all over my counter right now, and I find scraps of paper tucked in places with one-liners, sentences, paragraphs...tis the season of motherhood! But besides that, I have finally accepted the sssslllloooowww pace God has me on right now as far as writing goes, and the peace that comes with understanding is amazing!!

Love your notebook analogy. I'm not sure where I fit into it but maybe sticky notepads - you know those slightly longer ones. Sometimes it's napkins though. Recently I was cleaning out a file cabinet and it was such a hoot trying to make sense of all my various scraps of papers.

Pepper, I love your post. What fun. What wisdom. What a busy life you lead.

I'm an Empty Nester, so I'm a notebook writer. I think I knew that about myself, so I didn't begin writing until our daughter was in high school. Interruptions mess with my creativity. I need big chunks so I can immerse myself in the story.

I have great respect for those of you who are busy parents juggling family and work responsibilities and still find time to write. I salute with you with a sticky note in hand--a blue one since that's my favorite color.

I usually keep a small journal with me and use that. I've started taking walks at lunch and find I can talk out my story during those quiet times. When I've had 30 minutes of solid thinking on the story, I was able to rationalize some things.

I like your use of the sticky notes and thinking in forward motion. Good luck to you in the Genesis! Obviously you've accomplished a lot with your methods and madness!

Helen,I'm so glad you picked up the pen to write again. There have been loads of times Ive wanted to toss in the towel. Ruthy, Mary, and my Alley Cats will tell you so. It's tough when the kids are small, but God seems to be using my chaotic efforts so I'll keep going.

Natalie,I need to write my own advice on my hand for continual reminders. It is all about His timing....there is a lot of comfort in that, especially during times of emotional drama or mental distraction. :)

I know the sticky note feeling as there are sticky note reminders all over the house. They annoy my lovelyl wife, but she gave up on trying to change me. She found out that my brother-in-law has the same issue with my sister (my sister leaves sticky notes everywhere) and now figures it's a family trait.

Reminder to self: Don't forget to number the sticky notes! I didn't and now I'm trying to figure out just want I was thinking at two in the morning three weeks ago. :-)

I love those little notebooks too. I use them to write on the bus. I start a new job next week and the commute is an hour and a half each way. Ugh!!!! Multiple transfers so that's going to eat away at my writing time. I'll have to make sure I have a supply of sticky notes on hand!

I'm a reader - not a writer (well ... except for a few poems here and there for friends and family), but I learned a lot reading your blog post today. So you see, you inspire not just writers!I now think I need to use colorful sticky notes around here more often! I currently write on used envelopes, backs of mailed and home-printed pages, and basically anything with empty space on it. Post-it notes sound much better, although I might be tempted to write on the backs of them too!Best of luck in all that you (and your family) endeavor!

Now that I have contracted deadlines, I get up before dawn in an attempt to write for 60-90 minutes first thing every morning. But the rest of the day is majorly sticky note time--or anything else my pen will write on! I keep index cards by my bed. And little spiral notebooks in my car and purse in case I arrive a few minutes early some place or have a long wait for an appointment. It's amazing how much you can get done in snatches when you finally have time to type it up!

You know, I think maybe I said this before. The opening lines of my first book that sold (Her Unlikely Family) were jotted on a tattered receipt I dug out of my purse while chaperoning an elementary school field trip for my daughter. :) We were riding on a school bus. I later taped it into a notebook. And those lines stayed in the book almost exactly as written. :)

Seriously, busyness and confusion just sort of makes my brain numb out. I need quiet and lots of it.

Speaking of sticky notes, I've heard and read so many raves about the Evernote program that yesterday (in a migraine-induced haze) I downloaded it to my Mac and iPhone. Now I just have to figure out the most efficient ways of using it.

Ah, technology, the bane of my existence. I love it but I have too much fun playing with it and thus it's often just a HUGE distraction from "important" stuff I should be doing.

Making a quick stop with some FABULOUS pit-smoked bbq from my neck of the woods and some blue cheese dressing with crackers.The BEST blue cheese dressing EVER!!!(and I'm not a fan of blue cheese, but I'll eat this stuff by the buckets)

Welcome to this side of the blog, Pepper!! Wonderful, inspiring post for using the snippets of time God gives us to accomplish our dreams and His plan. You're an inspiration as you keep centered in the chaos of wife and mother of five, fulltime job and obligations as a pastor's wife.

I love this line you wrote best:

God’s got a story planned, one that ends with an amazing finish, and he’ll use all of our moments big or small to get us there.

So, so true, Pepper! I totally identify. Thanks for helping me realize some more "sticky note moments" I could be taking advantage of! And yes, to echo Carol M.: Definitely a little green because of your big Seekerville entry! Keep up the great work. ~Bethany Macmanus

If EVER a name fit, girlfriend, yours definitely does because you sprinkle spice and tang and a little bit of heat on everything you do!!

GREAT blog, my friend, SOOO very you, which should give people a sneak peek at how fun your books will be when they can finally order them on CBD.com or Amazon. And THEY WILL, mark my words!!

LOVE your sticky note mentality because I am a HUGE sticky note gal, but mostly with prayers and sometimes with ideas for the book or dialogue that pops in my mind.

Other than that, I fall into the 5 subject-notebook times (about 200 pages). I am that person who writes full-time with long spans of hours and days, BUT ... in NO way, shape or format does ½ a novel or an entire novel emerge after a few weeks of writing. What, you think I'm Mary, Ruth or Cheryl???? I wish!!

BUT I am learning from them and am almost halfway done with book 1 of The Cousins McClare, which I hope to complete by December. The good news??? It's not due to my editor till April 2012, so that gives me three delicious months to crank out a Marcy & Patrick prequel, which I fully intend to do ... with LOTS and LOTS of sticky note prayers, of course!

Congrats on your Genesis double final, Pepper! I'm definitely a "sticky notes" kind of writer. I think I've written in most of the places and ways you mentioned. Another one I'd throw in is the voice recorder that's built into your cell phone. I've used this while taking walks, when some of my best ideas pop into my head.

Christy,Congrats on forward sticky note thinking ;-)It's sometimes really hard to keep that perspective and not get 'stuck' with the wrong mindset. Especially when we're tired from taking care of other people or working all day.I think one of my favorite things is to remember that God's placed me right where I am - and He's in the middle of it with me.

He just so happens to also fill up my space with some WONDERFUL encouragers and hilarious kids - both at home and work :-)

Tears came to my eyes as I read parts of this. I'm reaching the end of the stage where I think I'll just "find" time to write, and entering the stage where I know I have to MAKE time to write. You are light years ahead of me with your sticky notes.

A HUGE congratulations on being a Genesis finalist and as a guest blog on Seekerville! Oh look, I think my skin is green!I LOVE sticky notes, have them close by all the time and use them for all types of purposes, including brain storming ideas for a book.

Hey Pepper! Oodles of congrats on your double final in Genesis! I just wish I was going to be in St. Louis to see you win.

My first thought when I read about your schedule and your life was that I'd never be able to do it - then I realized I did (how quickly we forget!) - except for the writing. That got put on hold until the children were older.

But hang in there. I'm with Vince. Not too long from now we'll all be able to say "Pepper Basham? Oh yes, I knew her when..."

I deleted that second comment because a writer once really got after me for suggesting story ideas to another writer. “No one wants to write other people’s ideas!” I can still hear her voice. Sorry I was sleepy. I had just woke up.

Wow, what a great post! That picture of you with a kid on your lap- that's me, but there's usually a baby nursing. (If I get the pillow just write, I can type with BOTH hands.) LOVED the sticky notes because that's where I fit. I was organizing my notes one night after everyone ahd gone to bed, and my husband walked in. He said, 'Are those our year-end receipts?' Ha! Okay, he didn't have his glasses on, and it sure looekd like a little snowstorm in there. Can't wait to read these comments!

Pepper, what an inspiring post! I definitely don't have your energy level, but while I was reading your words I was completely drawn in. I can see that you are so driven to make the time to pursue God's calling of writing. I love that. I want that! Press on!Blessings~Staceytravelingstacey(at)bellsouth(dot)net

I LOVED this post. Thank you so much for sharing. So many times I think that I have to have a big chunk of time set aside to write. I love how you elaborated. We don't need this to keep moving forward.

Hi Cara LynnI am a college instructor for undergrad and grad students on the track to become speech-language pathologists.My areas of specialty are:school-age Autism Spectrum Disorders/social languageandTraumatic Brain Injury

But I also work with post-stroke clients and kids who sound like Tweety Bird :-)

Audra - this is turning out to be a fabulous day!Vince says I remind him of RuthyYou say I'm Julie-esqueAND you want to stick to ME at the conference.

Sounds perfect to me, because I tell you one thing - you are one of the sweetest people on the planet! You touched my first ACFW conference with an element of grace and gentleness that I will never forget.

And you're a born encourager.Thank you!Anticipate lots of hugs in 3 weeks :-)

Glynna,I'm defintely a spiral-notebook carrier- but NOT a early morning writer.My brain has too many things to do to get the day started - but once it wakes up? Well, it's good to go (for the most part ;-)

That was fabulous Pepper!!!You are blessed with a beautiful family :)A great post to reread for anyone who cannot seem to get enough time in the day to write :)Remembering the seasons of life is great advice!

Vince,You will NOT bother me.I lOVE story-ideasAnd, btw, I really like your blog and writing style. I've visited it several times, but it won't let me leave a comment.(and I wanted to leave a comment about the runaway bride scenario - SO FUNNY)

This is a great post. When I was part-time at the newspaper, I job shared with a college student. We shared the same desk. She would put the names of her assignments on one sticky note. and stick it to our computer.

So wise. I tend to have huge to-do lists. I do that with writing, too. will set way too big a goal for the fiction writing and then get discouraged. I can see using them your way and also making my writing to-do list very short.

I admire your accomplishments at "work," home and writing. The ADHD had to make it challenging to do all that! Or do you just have a slight tendency? Amazing.

I know I’m late, but I enjoyed you as a guest blogger, Pepper! Actually, I stumbled onto your blog before Seekerville and I fell in love with the picture of the Blue Ridge Mountains (I’m a mountain girl—Rockies or Smokies). And, of course, being a writer myself, found your name to be both unique and meaningful. Is that the name your parents gave you, or a nickname? It’s lovely, either way.

I relate to your post—I think the hands on the clock do double-time when I’m at home and come to a near standstill when at the day job. Finding time to write is difficult, and I love to read how you all make it happen with jobs, children, spouses, and need I say, life in general?

And I agree with Julie—we’ll be able to buy your books on Amazon and CBD someday (soon!) and I look forward to it!

Sheri,Isn't it a 'freeing' thought to know God can use ANY time that we have?It's such a relief to me - because both my writing moments and my devotional moments have to happen in spurts or in motion :-)

Thanks so much, AusJenny.Post it notes are handy in so many ways.I also use them in 'high traffic' places for devotions. I'll place 2 or 3 verses in places I frequent and meditate on them while I'm there (or passing by).There is one by my kitchen sinkOne on my dashboard of the vanand sometimes I'll keep one on my bathroom mirror

Sorry I'm so late, Pepper!!! I came over here a couple of times but didn't get far before I was interrupted by the urgent. My life has been EXTRA CRAZY lately. Usually it's really quiet compared to your life! I would love to have your energy and ability to thrive in chaos. I don't have it. Completely missed that gene! Completely.

So, until I can get a gene transplant, I'll just keep praying that God makes my life nice and quiet and less chaotic again.

Sorry about the blogger comment problem. It is not something I do. Blogger will not even let me leave a comment on my own blog unless I sign in as Name/URL. If I do that, I can leave comments. I have this same problem on many blogger websites.